Subject: S> Memorials Date: Sun, 27 May 2001 07:15:56 -0500 From: Grady Scott To: bobcolston@prodigy.net Brethren, Here is a sermon I am planning on preaching this morning, Lord willing. Use as you see fit. Let me know if you want an attachment copy - Grady MEMORIALS INTRODUCTION: "Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also a unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men." -- Pericles (c. 600 B.C.) Memorial Day (tomorrow) stands as such an unwritten memorial for our fallen dead who gave their all their country. BODY I. THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER WAS TO BE A MEMORIAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF JEWS. A. The day would be a memorial for future generations. 1. Exodus 12:11_14 "'And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. 12_ 'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13_ 'Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14_ 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance." 2. Exodus 13:8_9 ""And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, 'This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.' 9_ "It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt." B. In the same way, the Lord’s Supper serves as a memorial for what God has done for His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. 1. 1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." 2. 1 Corinthians 11:24_25 "and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25_ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."" I. ITHE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE TOLD TO RAISE A MEMORIAL TO REMEMBER THEIR CROSSING OF THE JORDAN RIVER. A. Joshua called on the people to set up a remembrance 1. Joshua 4:4_7 "Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5_ and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6_ "that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7_ "Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."" 2. Joshua wanted them to remember how God parted the Jordan River to allow the Ark of the Covenant to pass over on dry land. 3. It is also important to note that a second memorial was raised at the point where they crossed (verse 9). B. In what way would the stones serve as a memorial? 1. These stones would serve as a visible reminder of God’s guidance. 2. Future generations would remember how God guided his people from the wilderness into the promised land. 3. We can learn from this that God will guide us into His eternal kingdom, if we continue faithful. a. 2 Peter 1:11 "for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." III. THE WOMAN WITH THE ALABASTER BOX IS TO BE A MEMORIAL. A. Jesus was nearing the end of his life when an act of kindness what help to all generations as a memorial. 1. Mark 14:3_9 "And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4_ But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5_ "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. 6_ But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7_ "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8_ "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9_ "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."" 2. Jesus said that wherever the gospel would be preached this woman’s actions would be remembered! B. Why is it important to remember what she did? 1. It reminds us of her complete devotion to Jesus. This gift was worth at least $300.00 in value. We don’t know how costly it was to her, but it is obvious that it was of a sufficient value to cause the disciples to notice. 2. It reminds us that we must be willing to not be miserly in our relationship with God, but to be lavish in our giving. 3. She “did what she could” and thus shows a lesson in the use of our abilities and opportunities. We must be willing to “use our talents” rather than bury them in the ground (Matthew 25:14-30). She was not an apostle, would not preach to thousands, but her simple obedience would be noticed throughout the centuries. See also 2 Corinthians 8:12. 4. This simple act of love would be known as a preparation for Jesus’ burial, which he would not receive, and is also significant as an anoint of him as Messiah. IV. THE ACTIONS OF CORNELIUS WERE HELD AS A MEMORIAL. A. Listen to the words of the angelic visitor to Cornelius. 1. Acts 10:3_4 "About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4_ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." B. Notice that the angel does not say that this is a remembrance for us. 1. His prayers were remembered by God. Also, in verse 31 we are told that Cornelius’ great charity in giving had been remembered by God as well. 2. It seems quite obvious that Cornelius’s prayer that God had taken notice of was that of a desire for salvation. a. Acts 10:5_6 ""Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6_ "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do."" 3. The devotion of Cornelius was so complete, his prayers were so earnest, that God would act to make sure he knew the answer to his prayers! 4. We know that those who earnestly desire to learn of the truth of the Gospel will find direction to obey the truth! a. John 17:7 ""Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You." 5. But this great lesson teaches that, even though his prayers went up as a memorial before God, it was still necessary to hear the gospel and obey it before Cornelius could be saved! He still needed the preaching of the gospel. CONCLUSION: In Washington, D.C. there is a memorial to all those men and women who died for their country in the Vietnam War. One that long, dark, cold, slab of stone is engraved the names of each man and woman who gave their lives in active service in Vietnam. It is a place of holy honor for honored dead. Thousands will flock to it this weekend and silently ponder each name. Each name represents a young man or woman who was taken prematurely from life in an act of self sacrifice. Let us remember them and all who gave their all. But there is another great divine role. Those whose actions we have just mentioned in God’s Word acted in such a way as to be remembered throughout history. More than that, their actions will be remember for an eternity!